Business

Establishing a business entity (corporation, partnership, LLC, etc.) is a critical first step in establishing your business because it protects you from personal liability by separating your personal interests from your business interests and creating the framework for your business’s future growth. PGL will lead you through the business entity formation process to determine which entity type best meets your needs, complete all state and local registrations, and draft essential contracts so you can hit the ground running and get to work.

Don’t slow down your business dealing with contracts and legal transactions. Over the course of owning and operating your business you’ve likely dealt with, or will deal with, a variety of contracts and transactions – from leases and service contracts to selling your business or acquiring a new one. Some are straightforward, but it’s often helpful, time-saving, and headache-sparing have an attorney on-call to handle these items and ensure your interests, and time, are protected.

Protecting what makes your business unique is a fundamental part of growing your business. Registering a trademark or product ensures that you maintain ownership over every aspect of your business. PGL will assist you with all the steps to register trademarks and copyrights and ensure your business is the one that profits from your hard work and creative ideas or designs.

Are your employees full-time, part-time, or seasonal? Hourly? Salaried? Independent contractors?

Different workforce classifications require you to comply with different employment laws. Additionally, misclassifying workers can result in costly penalties and back wages, and leave a feeling of distrust among your employees. PGL will help you establish policies that treat your workforce equitably while complying with the laws that apply to your industry and the needs of your business.

We create policies tailored to your business’ custom needs. With overlapping laws governing sick time, protected leave, overtime, and a growing list of protected activities, individual policies must be carefully crafted to comply with the law and provide you and your employees clarity on what each other’s rights and responsibilities are. PGL will help you create personalized policies that check all of the necessary boxes, reflect your company’s values and culture, and ensure smooth and efficient operations.

A company handbook sets the tone for what you expect from your employees and what they can expect from you. A well-crafted handbook can also serve as an invaluable resource for your employees when questions about policies and procedure arise, saving your team time by answering the simple questions. It also helps you maintain consistency among your workforce, preventing claims of discrimination or providing a solid defense when problems do arise.

PGL will work with you to create your employee handbook, overhaul an outdated handbook, and provide periodic updates as your company’s needs and local, state and federal laws change.

Your team is more productive when they trust that their employer will resolve conflicts openly and ethically. A recent survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 65% of employees reported that the respectful treatment of all employees at all levels was a very important contributor to their job satisfaction. PGL will ensure you know the laws governing leave, accommodations, and terms for hiring and firing employees. We will support you through the process as you navigate HR issues and ensure you and your employees understand all of your options.

As #metoo and myriad discrimination lawsuits against large corporations have highlighted, employers have a high bar when it comes to creating a safe, comfortable, professional, workplace. But what do you do when one of your employees complains of discrimination or harassment? Having a neutral third-party conduct an independent investigation helps you address the issue quickly and fairly while minimizing your liability. As a former investigator with the Bureau of Labor and Industries, Brandy will conduct a thorough investigation and ensure all parties involved in the investigation are treated fairly throughout. We will present you with our findings and recommendations at the conclusion of the investigation so that you have everything you need to take appropriate action.

You rely on your managers to drive your operations. Did you know you can be held responsible for their mistakes? Many business owners don’t realize that their managers can expose their business to liability through their actions. This is why it is critical that your management staff know their legal responsibilities and your employees’ legal rights. PGL will train managers on current employment law and conduct all-staff trainings on topics ranging from discrimination, accommodations, workplace protections, and diversity and inclusion. Trainings reflect your company’s culture, your industry, current laws, and best practices.

Whether you need assistance identifying and developing new leaders, or navigating a partner/member buyout, PGL will advise your company on the best practices for a smooth transition. This could include drafting agreements for ownership transitions, training staff prior to promotions into leadership, or negotiating joint ownership agreements, among other services. Let us know what you need and we’ll work out a plan, together.